Globoplay’s ‘Emergency 53’ proves international potential with distinction

Major Brazilian streamer Globoplay has been working intensively over the past five years to strengthen its international presence in an effort to achieve what few others have: creating local content from South America that not only resonates globally, but also generates a tangible impact on international markets and events. The streamer has had an original series playing at the Berlinale Series Market for the past three years, winning the coveted Studio Babelsberg Production Excellence Award for “Emergency 53” earlier this week.

The newly introduced award is important for Globoplay’s internationalization efforts as it rewards outstanding creative projects that combine artistic ambition with international potential. ‘Emergency 53’ comes from the same creative team as Globoplay’s big procedural series ‘Under Pressure’, Andrucha Waddington and Cláudio Torres, plus creator and consultant Márcio Maranhão. The series, which debuts later this year, follows a group of doctors, nurses and drivers from a special mobile service unit as they navigate personal and professional drama. “Emergency 53” is produced by Torres and Waddington’s leading Conspiração banner.

In their statement, the Berlinale Series Market jury responsible for choosing the winner of the inaugural Studio Babelsberg Production Excellence Award said the series “distinguished itself by a confident mastery of procedural form, a compelling young protagonist and a diverse ensemble rich in emotional and narrative potential.”

“The setting is one of the series’ greatest achievements: a vibrant, complex environment portrayed not as a backdrop, but as an active force shaping the story,” the statement continued. “This specificity gives the show both texture and social relevance, pushing it beyond the conventions of emergency rooms or police procedurals. The setting – rarely seen in mainstream high-production drama – gives the series substance, urgency and social depth. It is ambitious, fresh and deeply rooted in the world it portrays.”

Alex Medeiros, head of content and fiction at Globoplay and Globo Filmes, explains Variety he and his team are “incredibly proud to be the recipients of this award, which not only recognizes the artistry of the series, but also affirms the power of quintessential Brazilian storytelling to resonate with audiences around the world.” The director adds that “there seems to be great Latin American momentum in international film and television, and we are honored to be part of it.”

Tanja Meissner, director of the Berlinale Pro, added that she and her team are “delighted by the successful first collaboration with Studio Babelsberg.” “The joint event was a great success, with surprised winners and very positive feedback. This experience makes us optimistic and we look forward to hopefully continuing this promising collaboration in the future to further promote outstanding global scripted series and set new creative standards together.”

Waddington emphasized his desire to share the honor not only with his team, but also with “all Brazilian public health care workers.” Speak with Variety Ahead of the series’ first screening in Berlin, the director highlighted how the project feels very specific to a particular area of ​​Brazil’s healthcare system, while retaining an essential element of universality in the way it addresses class inequality – all while avoiding the potential pitfalls of the formula.

“Globoplay really trusted us when we presented the project,” he said. “We were a bit unsure at first. Now that we have watched all ten episodes, we firmly believe in the format. The audience likes to be poked and we should not underestimate the viewers. With ‘Emergency 53’ we tackle major social issues, without repeating ourselves with every episode.”

Torres added that it is “great” to be creative in an international landscape that is much more open to projects from different countries and cultures, citing Bong Joon-ho’s Best Picture Oscar for Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” in 2019. “Nowadays you see young people watching stories that are rooted in the reality of South Korea, Sweden, Iceland… I think Brazil has a lot to offer because it is a paradoxical country, and it is precisely this paradox that is the basis of our series.”